The IPL 2025 is set to begin on March 22 with the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) locking horns in a tournament opener. All the cricket fans around the world are waiting for this marquee tournament to start and they want to see their favourite players on the field. One of the biggest reasons for the IPL (Indian Premier League) being so big is MS Dhoni and his bond with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise.
Now, MS Dhoni, in an event in Mumbai, has expressed his opinion on his retirement and how he wanted to approach the last few years of his professional career. Today, we will see what MS Dhoni has told about his playing career and his retirement plans. The former Indian captain also gave a life lesson to the young fans.
MS Dhoni Talks About His IPL Retirement
In a recent event in Mumbai, a former Indian captain and legendary cricketer, MS Dhoni talks about his IPL retirement before the 18th edition of the tournament. It was an event regarding the launch of his app, powered by Single.id.
There is always suspense on Dhoni’s retirement before every season of the IPL. During an event, the CSK legend ends the suspense before the 18th edition of the tournament. Dhoni said he wanted to enjoy the last few years of his cricket career. He also gave an example of his childhood, when he used to just enjoy playing the game.
The former Indian captain has announced his international retirement in 2020. He played his last international game against New Zealand (NZ) in an ODI World Cup 2019 semifinal. So it’s a long time now.
“It’s been a while since I have retired (from international cricket). Since then, I have been enjoying my cricket and will continue to do so for whatever years I will be able to play. Just like in my childhood days, I used to go to play in the afternoon at 4 o’clock because that was a sports time.” – MS Dhoni said in an event (Quoted by us).
Dhoni also said when the weather wasn’t good for cricket, they used to play Football. Although it is easier said than done, he wanted to play with some kind of innocence and wanted to enjoy the IPL.
ALSO READ: ICC Champions Trophy Highest Wicket-Takers in All Editions
MS Dhoni Advised the Young Fans, Told Them to Set Priorities
While interacting with the young fans, Dhoni advised the youngsters to set their priorities. The former CSK captain said when he was growing up, he set the priorities around cricket because it’s the most important thing for him. His sleep time, his wake-up time, and what was the impact of those things on his cricket were the things he looked at at that point in time.
“You need to figure out what is good for you. There is a right time for things like friendships, fun, and all. And if you figure out those things and balance those things, it will be the best thing you can do for yourself.” – Dhoni while advising the youngsters (Quoted by us).
Why MS Dhoni is not Retiring From the IPL?
DISCLAIMER: We all love MSD and wanted him to play as long as possible. It’s just that we are trying to figure out the reasons for him not retiring from the IPL because MSD is someone who cannot play for money only.
As we have said before, MSD has played his last international game in 2019. Since then, he has been regularly featured in every IPL season. His fans wanted to see him play as long as possible, and Dhoni has also been loyal to his fans over the years. After the IPL 2023 title win, he said that he would come to play the IPL in the next season as a ‘gift’ for his fans.
Over the years, the fans and the experts always expected that the upcoming IPL season would be Dhoni’s last assignment. But, the CSK legend always shocks the world by playing another season. Let us now try to figure out what are the possible reasons that MS Dhoni is not retiring from the IPL.
(1) His Fan Following (Emotional Connection with the Fans)
MS Dhoni has a huge fan following, not just in India but all around the world. Maybe, for the fans, he is still playing in the IPL. His fans wanted to see him playing, even for a shorter duration. We have seen him batting lower down the order in the last few seasons. But that’s enough for his fans.
Dhoni’s presence on the field is enough for his fans to come and watch him play.
(2) Dhoni’s Leadership Influence
MSD has the experience, having played so much professional cricket over the years. He has won 5 IPL titles for CSK as captain and brings the best out of the players over the years. The former CSK captain has had an important role to play in making the youngsters in the team.
MSD can share valuable insights and experience with the team. It can help the team to perform better in a crunch situation.
(3) CSK’s Transition Period
Continuing the above point, MSD can contribute to the team’s transition period. Many great players who once formed the core of CSK are gone now. So he needs to be around the youngsters and let them grow for the future.
Although MS Dhoni relinquished the captaincy role, he is still a part of the decision-making group
(4) Commercial and Brand Value
MS Dhoni is one of the biggest brands in Indian cricket. His presence in the IPL significantly boosts CSK’s fanbase, sponsorships, and brand value. Beyond cricketing reasons, his association with the franchise helps them in many ways.
(5) Supreme Fitness and Game Awareness
Even at the age of 43, MSD is still up and running. He is sprinting for a run, playing the role of a wicketkeeper and his game awareness is unmatched. Thala (MSD is known as Thala) knows how to control the match situation and when to apply a particular strategy.
ALSO READ: Rajasthan Royals IPL 2025 Squad SWOT Analysis
CONCLUSION
So these are the few reasons MSD is still playing in the IPL. Whatever the reasons are, we all love MS Dhoni. We just wanted him to play as long as he wanted to, even at 50, 60, or 70. Jokes apart, we will now see him playing in the IPL 2025, winning the hearts of millions of fans.
Are you excited for the IPL 2025? What are your predictions? Comment down below. Thank you for reading. Keep following us for the latest updates. A lot of new stuff is coming up on this website. Stay Tuned.
